Means for securing large construction structures to a trailer for transportation

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for securing construction structure loads to a trailer for transportation which employs adjustable tubes, tie down chains, chain binders, load pads and protective flanges. The load pads being the apparatus for transferring the tie down forces to the construction structure load and trailer bed without damaging the load. The protective flanges being the apparatus for preventing the load chains from damaging the edges of the construction structure load when the load is secured. The apparatus is placed on the top of a load with the load chains secured to the trailer at a vertical angle. The chain binders being the apparatus to tighten down on the load creating greater clamping force between the load and the trailer bed.

This application is a divisional application which claims the benefit ofapplication Ser. No. 11/959,611 filed on Dec. 19, 2007 in the name ofthe same inventor and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,757.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and system for acontrolled pressure friction base fastening fixture for safely securinglarge construction structures, such as pre-stressed concrete structuresand the like, onto railroad and/or tractor trailer beds for securetransportation from a fabrication site to the construction site or pointof use location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of tie-down systems, whether strap type, chain type or other, inthe securing and transportation of large loads is well known in the art.Chain type tie-downs are typically utilized on heavy and/or rollingloads, or on loads that can withstand the tie-down tightening processwith out undue damage to the goods being secured, such as for securingconstruction equipment, automobiles, machinery, steel piping, logs andthe like. Once the chain is attached to both the object being securedand to the trailer bed, a ratcheting mechanism is the utilized totighten the chain in order to securely tie the load to the trailer bed.The chain type tie-downs can withstand high tie-down tension with littleor no elasticity in the chain itself.

Strap type tie-downs are secured in a manner similar to the chain typetie-downs but are more elastic in nature and tend to elastically stretchwhen put under tension. This provides a cushioning securing means to theload being secured. The strap type of securing means is more commonlyused on crated or boxed loads, or loads that are lighter in weight andrequired less tension to adequately secure them to a trailer.

With either type of tie-down, a plurality of the chain or straptie-downs is typically placed over the top of the load to be secured,and then secured to the side edges of the trailer. This secures the loadfrom shifting to either side of the trailer during transportation.Additional chains or straps are used to secure the load to the front andrear of the trailer to prevent the load from sliding forward or backwardon the trailer during transportation.

Specific tie-down arrangements for specialized applications have beendeveloped for a variety of reasons and products. U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,123issued to Dawson on Jan. 17, 1995 provides a device for securing stackedlumber on a trailer for transportation. The device includes a convexshaped element that deforms under tie-down strap pressure so as toprovide uniform engagement with the individual elements of lumber on thetop surface of the load.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,500 to Patrick, issued on Jul. 2, 1995 discloses aprotective member for securing metal coils to a trailer utilizingreleasable chain or cable retaining means. The protection member liesbetween the chain or cable and the metal coil in order to prevent damageby the chain or cable to the edges of the metal coil. U.S. Pat. No.4,770,578 to Coleman, issued Sep. 13, 1988 discloses an arrangement forsecuring bins to trailers utilizing a tie-down frame.

While these and other tie-down systems are generally effective for theirintended purposes, they are inadequate when it comes to securing largeconstruction structures such as pre-stressed or preformed concretestructures. Pre-stressed concrete structures are designed andmanufactured to support a vertical load only. If the edges of the topsurface of the pre-stressed concrete structure are chipped or damaged inany way, the chipping or damage destroys the integrity of the structureand, as a result, the entire structure must be disposed of as scrap at aloss of tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars plus the cost anddisruption to traffic caused by removing the pre-stressed concrete to adisposal site.

Given these concerns, the current method of transporting largeconstruction structures is to lay them on a trailer and allow thefriction between the trailer and the weight of the constructionstructure load to be the primary means of securing the load to thetrailer. Chains are utilized only at the front and rear of the trailerand structure in order to try and prevent the structure from slidingforward or backward.

Given a construction structure load can weigh anywhere between 15 to 40tons or more, the friction does provide some securing means on the loadto the trailer. However, every year there are multiple instances, inmultiple states, wherein the load loses its frictional resistance to thetrailer and falls off of the trailer. The front and rear chainsproviding little if any real securing means. This results in not onlythe expensive loss of the structure itself, but the costs to remove thestructure and dispose of it. In addition, every year there are instanceswhere people are crushed to death or vehicles are destroyed by thestructure falling off of the transport trailers.

Therefore, a need exists to for a more reliable and safer means forsecuring large construction structures to a trailer for transportationthat does not damage the construction structure and better secures theload to the trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing hazards and disadvantages inherent in thepresent means for transporting large construction loads, the presentinvention provides a new means for better securing large constructionloads, including pre-stressed concrete structures, for transportation.

The general purpose of the present invention is two fold. The firstpurpose is to provide a better means for securing a large constructionload to a trailer to prevent the load from falling off of the trailerunnecessarily. A second purpose is to provide a securing means that doesnot cause damage to the construction structure during the securing andtransportation process.

To accomplish this, the present invention generally comprises a pair ofrigid square hollow outer tubes and four square hollow inner tubes thatare slideably placed inside of the ends of the two outer tubes. Theinner tubes can be slid in or out of the outer tubes to a desiredoverall length. The inner tubes are then temporarily fixed in place tothe outer tubes by the use of locking pins. Fixedly attached to theouter ends of the inner tubes are protective flanges that prevent theload chains from coming in contact with any construction structure load,thereby avoiding damage to the structure.

Load chains are then adjustably connected to the outer tubes and exitthe inner tubes for tie down to a trailer. Removably attached to thebottom of the outer tubes are load pads. The load pads are of sufficientheight to prevent the inner or outer tubes from contacting theconstruction structure load when the load chains are tightened down. Inaddition, the load pads are made of a material that has goodcompressibility and shape retention such that a large pressure can beplaced on the load pads without damaging the load.

There has been thus outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thatfollows may be better understood, and in that the present contributionto the state of the art may be better appreciated. In this respect, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and to the arrangements of the componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced andcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that theterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out theseveral purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructionsinsofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new means forsecuring construction structure loads to a trailer for transportation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new means forsecuring construction structure loads, including pre-stressed concreteloads, to a trailer that prevents damage to the load.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a securing meansthat is easily manufactured and installed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a securing meansthat is durable in construction and reliable in use.

It is a further object of this invention that it is cost effective.

These, along with other objects of the invention, along with the variousfeatures of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed outwith particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood, and objects other than thoseset forth above, will become more apparent when considered with thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention as mounted on aload and trailer.

FIG. 4 is an end planar view of the present invention mounted on a loadand trailer.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustiveor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Rather, theyare illustrated and described to explain the principles of the inventionand its practical use, to thereby enable others skilled in the art toutilize this invention. Furthermore, the invention as described anddrawn utilizes a pre-stressed concrete load for explaining how theinvention operates and functions, however, it is to be understood thatthe use of the pre-stressed concrete load example is not meant to limitthe invention to pre-stress concrete structures as the invention can beeasily and readily applied to construction structures that are notpre-stressed concrete. In addition, the pre-stressed concrete structureused in the explanation is what is know in the art as a “double T”structure and is only meant to as an aide in explaining the invention indetail, thus the double T structure is not meant to limit the inventionto that structure, but rather to encompass all such large constructionstructures to which the securing apparatus applies.

With reference now the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several viewsthereof, a securing device 1 is illustrated which forms a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a first preferred embodiment of the securingapparatus 1 of the present invention. The securing apparatus 1 comprisestwo (2) horizontal outer square hollow tubes 2, preferable of steel orother rigid material, which are fixedly connected to each other by alifting plate 4. The lifting plate 4 has a lifting hole 5 for theplacement and removal of the securing apparatus 1 onto or off of aconcrete structure 17 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the top of each outertube 2 are two (2) chain openings 9 for receiving and removably securingone end of a first load retaining chain 10. Proximate each end of theouter tubes 2 is a locking pin hole 14 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 5).Slideably inserted into the two open ends of each of the outer tubes 2are inner square hollow tubes 6, preferably made of steel or other rigidmaterial. There are a plurality of locking pin holes 7 located on thevertical sides of each of the inner tubes 6. Locking pins 15 areutilized to secure in the inner tube 6 to the outer tube 2 through thelocking pin holes 7 and 14, thereby determining and fixing the overallwidth of the apparatus 1.

On the bottom horizontal surface on each of the outer tubes 2 are tworesilient load pads 3 that are removably attached to the outer tubes 2.The load pads 3 being made preferably of oak, maple, polypropylene orthe like. At the exposed end of each of the inner hollow tubes 6,fixedly attached to the bottom surface of the inner hollow tube 6, is aprotection flange 8, preferably made of steel or other rigid material.Load retaining chains 10 being secured at one end of the chain 10 to oneof the chain openings 9 and running through and out of the inside of theinner hollow tube 6. A chain load binder 11, of the kind commonly knownin the art, being attached at a first end to the second end of the loadchain 10 and at the second end to a first end of a second load chain 12.The second end of the second load chain 12 being then attached to thetrailer 16 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4).

As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, there is a trailer 16 having a trailer bed18. Placed on top of the trailer bed 18 is one style of pre-stressedconcrete structure 17 used in construction. Other shapes are commonlyknown in the art and will not detract or limit the scope of theinvention. The typical means of securing the concrete structure 17 tothe trailer 16 is by taking advantage of the friction caused by theweight of the concrete structure 17 on the bed of trailer 18 at thesurfaces of contact 19. Load chains (not shown) can be attached to thefront and rear ends of the trailer 16 and the front and rear ends of thepre-stressed concrete load 17 as is currently done.

In use, an operator places one or more securing apparatus' 1 to the topof a pre-stressed concrete structure 17. The inner tubes 6 are then slidinward or out of the outer tubes 2 such that the protection flanges 8extend slightly beyond the edges of the pre-stressed concrete structure17. The load chains 10 and 12 and chain binder 11 are then utilized tosecure the securing apparatus 1 to the trailer frame 16 by tighteningdown the load chain binders 11. As the load chains 10 and 12 tightendown on the securing apparatus 1, the load pads 3 transmit the force oftightening to the top of the pre-stressed concrete load 17. This forceis transmitted through the pre-stressed concrete structure 17 andincreases the frictional force between the pre-stressed concrete load 17and the trailer bed 18 at the surfaces of contact 19.

As the securing apparatus 1 is tightened down, the edges of thepre-stressed concrete load 17 are protected from damage by the loadchains 10 and 12 and from the load binder 11 by the protection flanges8. In addition, as there may be some deflection of either the inner orouter tubes 6 and 2 respectively, depending upon the amount oftightening force applied to the load chains 10 and 12, the load pads 3are of sufficient height to prevent the inner or outer tubes 6 and 2from contacting the pre-stressed concrete structure 17 and causingdamage to the edges of the pre-stressed concrete structure 17.

In addition, as depicted in FIG. 4, the pre-stressed concrete load 17has a plurality of lifting loops 20, typically formed of steel that areas part of the pre-stressed concrete structure 17 as is known in theart. These loops 20 are typically utilized for lifting and moving thepre-stressed concrete structure 17. However, by placing the securingapparatus 1 over the loops 20 such that the loops protrude between thetwo outer tubes 2, tapered wedges (not shown) or other securing meanscan be driven into the loops 20 and against the top surface of the outertubes 2 thereby providing additional means for securing the securingapparatus 1 to the pre-stressed concrete load 17.

In its preferred mode, as depicted in FIG. 3, the load chains 10 and 12are positioned at an angle when installed. Thus, during transit, if thepre-stressed concrete load 17 starts to lose frictional immobilityrelative to the trailer bed 18, any movement of the concrete load 17causes the securing apparatus 1 and load chains 10 and 12 to applygreater pressure to the pre-stressed concrete load 17 thereby preventingany further movement of the pre-stressed concrete load 17.

In a further embodiment of the invention, only one side of the securingapparatus 1 would have first and second load chains 10 and 12 and chainbinders 11. The other side would have load chain (not shown) thatattaches at a first end to one of the chain openings 9 in the outertubes 2 at to the trailer 16 at the second end. Tightening down the loadchains 10 and 12 on the one side would tighten down the entire securingapparatus 1.

In an alternative embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 5, in place of the two(2) outer tubes 2 and four (4) inner tubes 6 there is only a singleouter tube 2 and two (2) inner tubes 6. The protection flanges 8 havebeen modified by extending the protection flange in both directions toprotect the pre-stressed concrete structures 17 from any damage from theload chains 10 and 12 and/or the load chain binder 11. In thisembodiment, the load chains 10 and 12 would be in a straight verticalplane to the trailer bed 18. During transit, if the pre-stressedconcrete load 17 starts to lose frictional immobility relative to thetrailer bed 18, any movement of the concrete load 17 causes the securingapparatus 1 and load chains 10 and 12 to apply greater pressure to thepre-stressed concrete load 17 thereby preventing any further movement ofthe pre-stressed concrete load 17. As depicted in FIG. 5, only one loadpad 3 is utilized.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that thespecific location and number of load pads 3 and other dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, which includes variationsin size, materials, form, shape and manner of operation are deemedreadily apparent to one skilled in the art for the present invention'sapplication to similar or differing shapes, sizes, weights andconfigurations of pre-stressed concrete loads 17 or other loads to whichthis invention may apply.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, but to include all modifications and equivalentsfalling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

1. A means for securing a construction structure to a flatbed, saidmeans comprising: a means for placing a construction structure onto aflatbed trailer; a means for placing a load inducing first fasteningmeans on top of said construction structure, said fastening meanscomprising: a first resilient load bearing pad means for protecting saidconstruction structure from said fastening means; a means for adjustingan overall length of said fastening means such that said fastening meansis wider than said construction structure; a means for temporarilyfixing the adjusted overall length of said fastening means; anadjustable means for attaching said fastening means to said trailer; ameans for protecting edges of said construction structure from saidadjustable attaching means; and a means for tightening down saidadjustable attaching means and said fastening means.
 2. The means forsecuring a construction structure of claim 1 comprising a plurality ofsaid fastening means which includes said first fastening means.
 3. Themeans for securing a construction structure of claim 1 comprising aplurality of resilient load bearing pad means which includes said firstresilient pad means.
 4. The means for securing a construction structureof claim 1 wherein said construction structure is a pre-stressedconcrete structure.
 5. The means for securing a construction structureof claim 1 further comprising adjustability of the overall length ofsaid fastening means by sliding a hollow inner tube into and out of ahollow outer tube.
 6. The means for securing a construction structure ofclaim 1 further comprising adjustability of the overall length of saidfastening means by sliding a hollow inner tube into and out of a hollowouter tube wherein said inner and outer tubes are square.
 7. The meansfor securing a construction structure of claim 1 further comprisingadjustability of the overall length of said fastening means by sliding ahollow inner tube into and out of a hollow outer tube wherein said innerand outer tubes are rectangular.